In “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction” by James Paul Gee demonstrates how literacy is rooted in understanding different discourses we experience throughout our lives. Job interviews, presentations at work, and academic-related seminars indicate the maturity of discourses. Gee states that humans should find importance in branching out by having different discourses for the successful development of Secondary Non-dominant and Dominant discourses. This is due to the trials we will encounter in the future. Thus, the theory of literacy versus fluency. An example I see day to day is in conversation with my sister. She has been playing soccer since she was four so she’s knowledgeable in everything soccer because she goes to practice three times a week, and has multiple games on the weekends. This proves her fluency in soccer. On the other hand, I have only been observing her as she plays and progresses in skill. Although I hear her complain after every game, I am only knowledgeable enough to know why she’s upset about the bad play or why she got a yellow card. I am only literate.
Before reading this article, I didn’t have a clear understanding of the terms Gee deems important. Although at points confusing, I found the information in the article very useful. As a society, we use motors of communication at every instant in our lives. People acquire Primary Non-dominant discourse during the first interaction with their family. These alone do not make for a successful social discourse. Communication is such an essential part of humanity. It’s in arguments with your siblings, in discussion groups, at meetings, or simply when having coffee with friends. Therefore, we must prioritize understanding discourses because as Gee states, it is a way of being in the world.
Leave a Reply